Did you hear what Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt’s reaction was to the “Hail Mary” on Sunday?
Jayden Daniels connected with Noah Brown via a tipped pass and a blown assignment by the Bears defense, and the result was a 52-yard game-winning touchdown for an 18-15 Commanders win over the Bears.
How did defensive coordinator Joe Whitt feel about it?
“I didn’t see much of it b/c I was pissed… we had just gave up the touchdown”
DC Joe Whitt, Jr with such a DC reax to the Hail Mary
Later:
“I said wow we caught it & so I just stood there & everybody’s going crazy cuz I was still a little pissed”@JPFinlayNBCS #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/xGA2Fwxstf
— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) October 31, 2024
“To be honest with you, I didn’t see much of it because I was pissed,” Whitt told the media at his weekly Thursday press conference.
“We had just gave up the touchdown, so I got up and was walking out of the press box, and then I turned around, and I was a little surprised about the play before the play. I thought they gave us a sideline, so we are going to have a chance at this, the Hail Mary”
Whitt said he then looked at the time and realized they were going to have a chance at a Hail Mary. He turned and watched a TV, not the field, and saw the ball was caught. He said he at first stood there because he “was still pissed.”
Whitt said he “went ballistic” and ran down the hall to the elevator. “So I really didn’t get to see the fans’ reactions until later seeing the pictures (replay) of it.”
“I am glad we have J5 (Jayden Daniels). He does an excellent job. But, we shouldn’t put him in that situation as a defense. We should close the game and finish the game in those winning moments.”
More than the defense not making the plays to keep the Bears out of the end zone, Whitt clarified, “I blame myself because we were in a solid (pause) but a better call I should have gotten to, and I didn’t. That is not acceptable.”
Whitt said he knew his defense didn’t come through, putting Daniels in the position of needing to pull off a Hail Mary.
There is a guy who knows not to bask too much in the miraculous.
